Paper holding board



y 20, 1941- T. H. ALFREDS 2,242,737

PAPER HOLDING BOARD Filed June 6, 1940 Patented May 20, 1941 UNHTED ST TES PT 7 Claims.

"This invention relates to improvements in paper holding boards and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, efficient device for holding one or more sheets of paper in a fiat, even, orderly condition, convenient for writing, sketching or drawing thereupon, whether the device is sup ported upon a surface such as a desk or table top, or is held in the hand or upon the lap of the person using the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which consists of but a minimum number of parts, devoid of screws, rivets, springs and the like, so as to be simple and inexpensive to make and yet be efficient in use for its intended purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose mentioned, which is substantially fiat throughout its entire area so that it may be conveniently carried or mailed in an envelope or so that a plurality thereof may be stacked. in a neat, orderly manner on a shelf or the like for storage or display.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a holder of this kind, which may be used flatwise upon a desk or the like, without marring or scratching the finish thereof or without easily slipping out of the desired positionupon the desk upon which it is used.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide a holder of this kind that embodies a flat body member and an endless elastic element used as a paper retaining element and which is so disposed on the body member as to obtain the holding power of both laps of the element and in a manner preventing a rolling up of the element when the device is moved upon a flat supporting surface in a direction at a right angle to the length of the elastic element.

The above mentioned objects of the invention,

as well as others, together with the advantages.

thereof, will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device when Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the rear face of the top end of the device;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation of one of the top end corners of the body member of the device and more particularly discloses one shape of slot that may be employed to receive a part of the elastic retaining element;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and illustrates a modified form of slot to receive said part of the elastic retaining element; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one form of elastic retaining element employed in the device and which may well be a conventional relatively wide, endless rubber band.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the improved device as shown in the present instance, embodies but two parts; namely, a flat and relatively stiff and preferably rectangular body member I0 and an elastic retaining member II. The body member I0 is preferably made from sheet material such as wood, pressed fibre, or paper board, but sheet metal may be employed for this purpose.

Said body is provided in each of its opposite margins toward its top end with a slot I2 spaced a suitable distance inwardly from the side edges of the body to provide a tongue I3, which extends parallel with the side edges of the body. In Figs. 3 and 4, said slot is shown as substantially of an inverted L-shape, with one portion I20. extending parallel with said side edges of the body and with another portion or branch I2b opening through the adjacent side edge of the body. The mouth or inlet of said branch I2b is rounded I off as best appears in Fig. 4. In the outer edge of each tongue is a rather shallow recess I4 of a length approximating the transverse width of the element II. The ends of said recess provide opposed shoulders I5.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a different form of slot I20 that may be used for this purpose, and which slot extends parallel with the side edges of. the body member to open through the top edge thereof. With such a slot, the tongue indicated at I3c terminates substantially flush with the'top edge of theboard. The form of slot which best appears in Fig. 4, however, is the preferred form as that part of the top margin of the body member above the part lib of the slot acts as a protection for the end of the tongue is so that it may not be readily damaged should the device be dropped upon one of its top end corners. An opening Illa is formed in the upper end margin of the body, centrally between the side edges of thebody whereby the device may be hangingly supported from a nail or hook when not in actual use, if. this is so desired.

The elastic retaining member H before mentioned may well consist of a conventional endless band of rubber or like material, as appears in perspective in Fig. 6. Such an endless band consists of two laps or portions Hi, the ends of one lap or portion being connected to the like end of the other tab or portion by folds or rounded portions l'l. Preferably, the endless band H has a width approximating the length of the recess M in the tongues I3 and has a length, when in its contracted position, less than the width of the body member ID. When the member II is disposed in operative position on the body, as will soon appear, it is therefore in a stretched or extended condition.

In applying the member H to the member Ill, one fold ll thereof is entered into each slot l2 so as substantially to surround the associated tongue I3. The end parts of the lower or under lap It then pass up through the slot portions |2a in Fig. 4 or I20 in Fig. 5 to engage upon the front face of the board and to extend from one slot to the other in the body Ill. The other or upper lap I6 is disposed in superposed relation upon the lower one and extends from the recess [4 in the edge of one tongue to the recess l4 in the edge of the other tongue.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this brings the major portion of the under lap iii in engagement with the front face of the body it and brings the end portions lfia of said lap into engagement with the rear face of said tongues as best appears in Fig. 3. The portions [6a just mentioned act as friction feet to prevent an undue slipping of the board when supported on a substantially smooth surface. With the arrangement mentioned, the entire top lap ii of the element H is disposed in superposed relation upon the lower lap and extends from one side edge to the other of. the body member Hi. When the folds or rounded ends of said member pass about the edge of the tongues l3 as defined by the recesses 14 the shoulders 15, as provided by the ends of said recesses, act as stops to prevent the element from. shifting in the direction of the length of said. tongues.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown sheets or leaves of paper l8 held in operative relation upon the front face of the body member l0. Preferably, said sheets should have a width less thanthe distances between those parts l2a of the slots l2i 2 that are parallel with the side edges of the body member. With paper of this width, it is possible to obtain the benefit of. the holding power of both laps I6 of the element II. If the paper sheets are wider than the width mentioned, the said sheets may be disposed between said laps, so as to be disposed over the bottom lap and under the top lap.

The body member if) when made of relatively thin sheet material should have such stiffness as to withstand the contraction of the element I l in its stretched condition, without curving or buckling.

When the body member has a width of say approximately 9 inches, an element five inches long and about or inches wide has been,

found practical. When such a member is in its stretched or extended condition on the body member, it provides a good firm grip on the paper sheets [8 but one which will not prevent the withdrawal of the desired sheet therefrom.

To apply the sheets of paper in place, both laps of element II are stretched or pulled away perpendicularly from the front face of the board and the plurality of paper sheets slipped thereunder. Upon release of said laps they instantly snap into holding position against said paper sheets.

The device is simple, comprising but two parts each of. which are relatively inexpensive and may be readily assembled in operative relation.

The improved paper holder provides a good grip across the entire width of the paper carried thereby so that the paper sheets remain in the desired position and do not readily become askew therein. The device is relatively flat over its entire area and includes no parts that will mar or scratch the fine finish of any supporting surface upon which it is placed.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form of certain parts thereof, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A paper holder of the kind described embodying therein a rectangular body of relatively rigid sheet material having upper and lower surfaces and a relatively wide elastic element, means at opposite margins of the body about which parts of said elastic element pass to dispose a minor portion of said element on one face only of each of said opposite margins whereby feet are provided and to dispose a major portion of said element across the other face of the body between said means.

2. A paper holder of the kind described embodying therein a rectangular body of relatively rigid sheet material and an endless elastic element arranged in two laps, means at opposite margins of the body about which minor parts of one of said laps of said elastic element are engaged to dispose portions of said parts on one face only of said each of said means and to dispose the major part of said one of said laps and the other of said laps in superposed relation across the other face of said body between said means.

3. A paper holder of the kind described embodying therein a rectangular body of relatively rigid sheet material therein having slots spaced inwardly from opposite edges of said body to form an integral portion in each margin and an endless elastic element arranged in two laps, parts of said element each passing through a slot to dispose minor parts of one lap of said element on one face only of each integral portion and to dispose the major part of said lap and the other of said laps in superposed relation across the other face of said body between said tongue portions.

4. A paper holder of the kind described embodying therein a rectangular body of relatively rigid sheet material, there being a slot arranged in each side margin of the body and having a portion arranged substantially parallel with the adjacent edge thereof and another portion opening through the adjacent edge to provide a tongue portion at each side of but integralwith said body, and an elastic element having minor portions each surrounding a tongue portion and extending through said slots and having major portions disposed in superposed relation across one face of the body.

5. A paper holder of the kind described embodying therein a rectangular body of relatively rigid sheet material, there being a slot arranged in each side margin of the body and having a portion arranged parallel with the adjacent edge thereof and another portion opening through the adjacent edge to provide a tongue portion at each side of but integral with said body, and an elastic element having minor portions each surrounding a tongue portion and extending through said slots and having major portions disposed in superposed relation across one face of the body, each tongue having spaced shoulders in one of its margins to be engaged by those parts of said element passing about said edge of the tongue.

6. In a paper holder of the kind described, a rectangular body of relatively rigid sheet material, there being a slot in each of two opposed margins of said body, near one end thereof, each slot being open at one end and closed at the other end having a portion extending substantially parallel with the adjacent edge of the body to form an integral tongue in each of said margins to receive a flexible band extending across the body, each tongue having a recess in its outer edge to there provide longitudinally spaced shoulders. I

7. A paper holder of the kind described comprising a board having a substantially fiat upper surface with side edges, holding means positioned along the side edges and spaced therefrom, and an endless band composed of two laps of flat elastic material having one end surrounding the holding means on one side and being stretched across the board with the other end engaging about the holding means on the other side, one lap of said elastic band being passed through the spaces between the board and the holding means and with the other lap superposed over the first lap.

TORRIS H. ALFREDS. 

